Pipe-tongs



'. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. F. SLOO-UM.

PIPE TONGS.

No. 540,763. Patented June 11, 1895,

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UNIT-ED STATES PAT NT Games.

l "BENJAMIN F. SLOCUM, OF ITHACA, NEvV YORK.

PlPE-TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,763, dated June 11, 1895.

Application filed Feb uary 2 3, 1894. semi No. 501,223. (No model.)

T at whom it may concerm;

. of the city of Ithaca, countyofTompkins, and

State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pipe-Tongs, which is fully set forth in the following" specification. My invention relates to that species of pipe tongs which are usually called chain Wrenches.

My improved chain wrench consists principally of a handle, or shank, of two jaws, and of a chain, one end of which is pivoted to the jaws and the other end of which is free. In its general form and functions, this type of chain wrench is well known. My improvements relateto the configuation and assembling of the parts of such chain-wrenches.

The outer end of the shank, which isoverlapped by the jaws, is preferably somewhat thicker than the rem'ainde rpf the' shank. This thickenedend of the shank has alongitudinal recess on either side, the upper or outer ends of which are open, and the sides of which are parallel for most of their length. The jaws have corresponding longitudinal raised portions, which fit into these recesses and extend beyond the same. The jaws are preferably somewhat longer than the jaiwsof a chain wrench, having double jaws, are ordir narily made, Passing through the head of the handle'and the jaws, is an assembling;

bolt, designed to firmly unite the jaws and the handle. This ii'nion may be effected in any other way, that is convenient and efficacious. The raised portions on the jaws, as has been before stated, extend at the upper ends thereof beyond the longitudinal recesses in the shank, and beyond the shank. These upper ends of the raised portions beyond the shank may preferably be somewhat enlarged, either in width, or in thickness, or in both. This serves to give strength to the jaws, Where the strain is very great. The thickness of these raised portions however, toward the head of the wrench, must not be so great as to interferewiththe adjustment of the end link of the chain between them. This end link of the chain is-perforated. The chain is united to the jaws by means of a bolt or pin,

passing through the jaws and the upper ends of such raised portions thereof and the perforated end link of the chain. The chain will thus swing freely, and at the same time will be permanently attached to the wrench. The

; jaws should be serrated on their sides toward the ends, as is well known in the art. This chain wrench is applied in the usual manner. The serrated ends of the jaws are placed above the pipe to be turned and the chain is passed below and around the under side of the pipe, and is brought up around the pipe, and fastened to the upper side of the jaws, by means of a'hook, or claw, on the inner side of each jaw, opposite each other, with which a link of the chain engages. each jaw has on its inner side a similar hook, or claw. The' tool is thus'reversible and is operated in exactly the same way, whichever side of the s'errated jalws be'applied to the pipe. The books, or claws, on. theinner sides of the jaws are preferablyinclined and curved away from thehead of the jaws.

The chain that I prefer to use consists of two difierent series of links, or members. The series, which may be called the outer links, are provided with rivets at each end and Washers thereon. These Washers are adapted to engage with the hooks or claws on the inner faces of thejaws. The other series of links or members, which may be called the inner links, serve as connections between the series of outer links.- v

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of, the wrench with one of the jaws removed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section at right angles to Fig. 1, one jaw being shown in elevation; and Fig. 3 is an interior elevation of one of the jaws. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7are sectional views illustrating modified arrangements which may be substituted for the bolt to secure the end link of the chain, and Fig. 8 illustrates a modified construction of the chain and the mode of securing the free end thereof.

Referring to the drawings A represents the shank or handle, having a thickened end a formed with a longitudinal recess a on either side thereof.

B, B are the two jaws, located on opposite sides of the end a of the handle, and each provided with a longitudinal raised portion or ridge b, which ridges correspond with and fit into recesses a and extend beyond the same.

Each side of The jaws and the handle are firmly united by recesses a and the end a of the handle are enlarged, as at b which serves to strengthen the jaws. Bolt or pin d passes through openings in the jaws, the enlarged portions b, and through an opening in the end link e of chain E, serving to secure the latter to the head of the wrench and at the same time permitting it to swing freely. On theinner face of each jaw, on opposite sides of the ridge b and at a point slightly back from the enlargements b of the ridge, is a hook, claw or similar pro: jection f curved or inclined toward the shank of the wrench, said projections serving to secure the free end of the chain when the wrench is in use. Corresponding projectionsf on the respective jaws are arranged opposite to each other.

The chain E consists of two different series of links, the links of one series (which have llereinbefore been termed the outer links) being provided. with rivets h at each end and washers 72. adapted to engage the hooks or olawsfon the inner faces of the jaws.

In place of using the bolt d passing through I the jaws and the perforated end link of the I the head of the handle having longitudinal l recesses on opposite faces thereof, two jaws each provided on itsinner face with a longitudinal raised portion or ridge fitting'atits rear 1 end into one of the longitudinal recesses in chain, one of the jaws may be provided with an inwardly extending projection d (see Fig. 4) long enough to pass through the perforated link at the end of the chain, and rest in a cavity, or socket d upon thein her side of the opposite jaw, or there may be opposite sockets d or cavities, in each of the inner faces of the jaw (see Fig. 5) in which a pin d passing through the perforated end link of the chain may rest, oras illustrated in Fig. 6 each of the in nor faces, of the jaws may be provided with inwardly extending projections d which meet, or almostmeet, and upon which the perforated end link of the chain may swing, or the end link e of the chain in place of being: perfo rated, may be provided with sockets or cavities e into which such projections extend, and upon which the chain may swing. (See Fig. 7.) All of these methods'of fastening, I should regard as the mechanical equivalents, long well known as such, of a bolt which serves the purposes of a pivot to the chain,

links, to permit of their engagement with the hooks, or claws on the inner faces of thejaws tofore made.

as illustrated in Fig. 8; but I prefer the form of chain first described.

The washers around the rivets of the links of the chain may be put on separately, and the rivet heads may be upset thereupon, thus securing the washers to thelinks, or the washers may be drop'forged on.

The recesses in the head of the shank, and the raised parts on the inner faces of the jaws, may be made by drop forging and tinishing in a milling machine.

The various parts of the wrench, that I have described are all easily made and tinished, and do not require a high degree of skill in their manufacture. The tool as a whole, is strong, simple, convenient and can be economically made. By reason of the peculiar construction of this wrench, the width of the chain, including the engaging devices thereon is proportionately less than in chain wrenches of the same general character here- This I consider an important advantage. The wider the chain is, the greater is the likelihood of warping or break- ;ing, when subjected to the severe strain, incident to the use of chain wrenches.

What I claim is 1. In a chain wrench the combination with the handle, the forward end of said ridge beyond the recess being enlarged, a chain, the l end of which engages between said enlarged ends of the ridges, an assembling bolt passing through the, jaws and the head of the handle, and a pin passing through the end link of the chain and projecting into sockets ers on the opposite faces of the links encircling the projecting ends of said pins or rivets, of jaws having lugs or hooks on their inner faces adapted to [it closely between the edges of said washers to secure the free end of the chain, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. SLOCUM.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. Woons, R. A. PIPER. 

